The Chairman of Parliament’s Government Assurance Committee, Hon. Francis Zaake, has put Minister of Local Government Hon. Balaam Barugahara on notice, warning that he will soon be summoned to Parliament to account for concerns and unresolved issues within the ministry.
Zaake said Barugahara, who was recently appointed as the substantive Minister of Local Government, should be prepared to explain what he described as the “messes” inherited from previous leadership.
According to the legislator, assuming a new position does not shield a minister from accountability for outstanding challenges within the docket. He argued that once a minister takes charge of a ministry, he assumes the responsibility of providing answers about its operations and addressing unresolved matters.
“Being new in the position will not be an excuse,” Zaake warned, stressing that Barugahara should be ready to respond to questions concerning the Ministry of Local Government.
The warning comes as Barugahara settles into a ministry that plays a critical role in Uganda’s public administration, overseeing local governments and supporting the delivery of services at district, city, municipal and sub-county levels.
Zaake’s Government Assurance Committee is mandated to scrutinise the implementation of government programmes and follow up on commitments made by government ministries, departments and agencies. The committee can summon officials to provide explanations where concerns arise over the implementation of government policies and programmes.
The latest warning therefore puts the Local Government Ministry under increased parliamentary scrutiny, particularly on issues that may have remained unresolved during previous administrations.
Barugahara has, since his appointment, built a public profile around efforts to expose alleged corruption, abuse of public resources and administrative failures in local governments.
The minister has conducted surprise inspections in different parts of the country, with some of the operations focusing on alleged ghost workers, payroll irregularities, absenteeism and poor management of public resources.
His approach has attracted public attention, with supporters portraying the inspections as part of a broader campaign to strengthen accountability and improve service delivery at the local government level.
However, Zaake’s warning suggests that the minister will also have to face scrutiny over challenges that existed before he assumed office.
Barugahara is deputised by State Minister for Local Government Hon. Justine Nameere, who is also involved in the ministry’s programmes and oversight of local government affairs.
The anticipated summons could provide Parliament with an opportunity to question the minister about the ministry’s outstanding challenges, actions taken since his appointment and plans to address longstanding concerns.
For Barugahara, the parliamentary scrutiny presents a test of his commitment to accountability. Having made anti-corruption and public-sector accountability central themes of his ministerial activities, he is now expected to demonstrate the same standards when answering questions about the ministry he leads.
The development also highlights the growing role of parliamentary oversight in demanding answers from government officials responsible for public institutions.
If summoned, Barugahara will be expected to provide Parliament with detailed explanations and outline measures being taken to resolve the concerns raised by the Government Assurance Committee.
Zaake’s warning signals that the Ministry of Local Government could soon become a major focus of parliamentary scrutiny as legislators seek answers on unresolved issues affecting local government administration and service delivery across the country.
